Posts Tagged ‘Friday’

Memorials for two memorable Jews took place this weekend, though they stood, perhaps, on opposite sides of the political spectrum.

The Matriarch Rachel, wife of the Patriarch Jacob and mother to biblical figures Joseph and Benjamin, was remembered on the 11th of the Jewish month of Cheshvan, being visited by a reported 70,000+ of her and her husband’s descendants. Jews from all over Israel and all walks of life came on Friday and Saturday night to pay their respects to the beloved matriarch, who is considered to be the mother of aliyah, said to be weeping for her exiled children by the prophet Jeremiah.

On Saturday night, a somewhat different Jew was also remembered, albeit by a significantly smaller and less pious crowd. Less than 25,000 people gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday night to remember former Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin. Less a celebration of his life and accomplishments than a nostalgic gathering for Oslo and reflection on his murder, the Rabin memorial this year was themed “Remembering the Murder: Fighting for Democracy”.

Tens of vehicles from across Israel set out in single file to show support and solidarity to the residents of the South Hebron Hills on Friday.

Women in Green, a staunchly pro-nationalist group which organized the event said it was meant to protest an occurrence during Sukkot in which they say police dressed up disguised as Arabs, and staged a possible infiltration of the Jewish community of Susiya, entrapping residents who came out to defend the town from an Arab attack.

According to the attorney of the accused, a representative of the Honenu legal rights organization, policemen dressed as Arabs approached the Har Sinai farm, owned by the wife and children of Yair Har-Sinai, who was murdered by Arab terrorists in 2001. Four Jewish men confronted the Arabs, and a fight ensued. The officers responded with tasers and tear gas, with several more emerging from hiding and arresting three of the men. The fourth escaped ,but was arrested on Thursday.

According to their attorney, the story’s ending was much better than it could have been – had the armed security guard of Susiya discovered the “Arabs” before the four unarmed Jewish men, someone might have been shot.

Friday’s caravan of vehicles drove from Kiryat Arba, next to the biblical city and home to the Tomb of the Patriarchs, Hebron, and waved banners saying “You are not alone.

According to the organizers, Jewish communities there have suffered the harassment and provocation of anti-Israel activists for years, who come to the region to protest Jewish life in what they say is the heartland of the Jewish people.

The Benjamin Residents’ Committee, the Samaria Residents’ Committee, and the Komemiyut movement also took part in the event.

IAF killed at least one Global Islamic Jihad terrorist on Saturday night and injured two in strikes on Gaza. The targets were members of the Al Qaeda associated Mujahadeen Shura Council (Salafists). They had claimed responsibility for the Gazan missiles launches that hit Netivot on Friday night and other rocket attacks.

The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement that the remains of Pvt. Majdi Halabi, a Druze soldier who disappeared in May 2005 on his way back to his army base, were discovered two weeks ago in the Carmel Forest near the village of Usifya.

An Israeli civilian hiking in the area reportedly found the remains. They likely were discovered due to last year’s fire, which exposed more of the forest floor. The remains were identified after testing at the Abu Kabir Institute of Forensic Medicine.

Israel police continue to investigate the circumstances behind Halabi’s death, according to the IDF. The funeral will be held Friday.

Halabi reportedly was in civilian clothing when he entered a bus station in the Druze village of Daliat al-Carmel, where he lived. He never made it to his army base near Haifa.